NHSO celebrates Ireland at Shelton Pops

Phyllis A.S. Boros

Published 5:25 pm, Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Connecticut uilleann pipes player Andrew Thomson will be featured with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra as part of its Irish pops concert Sunday, March 16, in Shelton.
Photo: Contributed Photo

Connecticut uilleann pipes player Andrew Thomson will be featured...

Connecticut uilleann pipes player Andrew Thomson will be featured with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra as part of its pops concert, "The Emerald Isle," Sunday, March 16, in Shelton.
Photo: Contributed Photo

More Information

It's a sound as distinctive as a honking goose. And for many, glorious music to our ears.

It's the uillean pipes -- much "smaller than the Highland pipes of Scotland, which every one thinks of when you mention `pipes,' and much sweeter, mellower," said percussionist/piper/composer Andrew Thomson of Norfolk.

"Highland pipes are pretty loud, meant to be played outdoors. The uillean pipes -- by the way, pronounced ill-in -- are for the indoors," he said, laughing.

Thomson's performance with the NHSO will be on the nine-note uillean pipes, although he also performs professionally on Highland pipes, Lowland smallpipes, a variety of whistles and flutes and bodhrán (an Irish frame drum).

Sunday's concert also will feature guest conductor Sarah Ioannides, soprano Kaitlin Lusk, 2006 World Champion tap dancer and Broadway veteran Trent Kowalik and the NHSO, all leading to an audience sing-along. On the program are "The Fair-Day" from "An Irish Symphony," by Hamilton Harty; "The Gale" from "The Brendan Voyage" ("Waking Ned Devine" composer Shaun Davey); Riverdance's "Caoineadh cu Chulainn," with uillean pipe solo; Enya's "May It Be"; and "My Heart Will Go On" from "Titanic."

Thomson said he became interested in the pipes by chance about five years ago while in college in Ithaca, N.Y.

"Let's face it: Pipe makers are few and far between. Yet there was this pipe maker a few miles from school," he said.

Intrigued by the musical challenge, he had the crafter "build a practice one."

Ultimately, it was through the pipes that his "passion was reignited" for music, he said.

"You know what they say? It takes 21 years to play the pipes. The first seven are learning the mechanics, the technique. The next seven is for practice. And in another seven, you're fit to play."

The twenty-something Thomson said, laughing, that he may be rushing the process a bit but added that he is very excited about the NHSO pop concerts "because the pipes are rarely featured with a symphony orchestra. So I think it will be lots of fun."